We recently connected with Martina Wade-Hill and have shared our conversation below.
Martina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?
I started life coaching many years ago, while I pastored a church. Back then, where I’m from, “Life Coach” was a misunderstood profession and wasn’t respected as it is today. But, it was my way of reaching people that I would rarely get a chance to meet inside of the church. I got a chance to share my God-given knowledge to people of different faiths and they received it because Wisdom is WISDOM… It’s just GOOD no matter what. When I retired from the pastorate, I decided to take my most favorite aspects of ministry and create a NEW career that better suited my future. Since I love coaching and assisting others on their journey, I created a career that allowed me the opportunity to be a strategy partner with all my clients to help them develop the best routes in life to reach their desired goals. This career has taken me all over the country, meeting new people, and being a change agent, during my clients’ most vulnerable times. I’m gifted in comforting and encouraging people. It’s something that’s instinctual for me and I absolutely LOVE IT! It’s part of my purpose! Being a matchmaker allows me to help people find their true love. With my coaching services accompanying it, my clients understand the benefits of being healed, as they build a relationship with their person. As for my film and television career, it’s all full circle. Everyone has a story to tell. Because I’ve spent my life learning people and loving them, I can tell stories that reach the hearts of many communities through the art of the lens. It’s not enough to have a camera, you have to know how to tell a story and knowing what stories relate to your audience.
Martina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
What a loaded question! I’m involved in so many projects and it’s truly a blessing. I started Matchmaking in church. I was a pastor for over 20 years. There was a point where I had a church full of singles and many of them wanted to be married. So, I would introduce some of them to people that I knew in the city. Others, I would connect them with fellow church members. I had no idea that what I was doing was considered “matchmaking”. Honestly, I thought that I was being a good pastor…. Lol! I didn’t know that I created a future business for myself. It got to the point that I would be invited to private dinners JUST to approve suitors. My judgment and God-Given instincts became revered in my community and the word got around that I can find spouses for people. I performed many weddings over the years and people knew me as the person to go to when they were ready to settle down. It wasn’t until I moved to Los Angeles that the matchmaking became a bonafide career! When I opened my life coaching business full-time, my first wave of clients were families of people that I previously matched! They sent me MORE single family members! I quickly realized that this was a viable service for me to offer to a wider audience. It evolved on its own. I became a dating coach, relationship coach, and a marriage coach. Many of the things that I did as a pastor. After a short while, a large matchmaking company caught wind of my stats and of my brand and partnered with me for 2 years. Literally OVER NIGHT, I went from a neighborhood pastor to a NATIONAL 5-STAR MATCHMAKER, who matched high-end clients, even Hollywood Stars from the Academy! It was an absolute DREAM! Currently, I work with several matchmaking companies, in order to offer services to a broader audience.
As for my Film & Television career, it started when I was just 15 years old. I was offered an opportunity to work for a local cable channel in Southfield, Michigan. There, I learned how to produce shows, direct, edit, the whole gamut! Later, I got a full- scholarship to attend Wayne State University for Radio,Television, & Film, in which I continued learning the art of production. I did many internships that landed small jobs in the industry. I was a radio jock for Radio One, WCHB 1340, WMKM 1440, Smooth Jazz V98.7. and WDVD 96.3. I also got internships in News that landed me a producer job at ABC WXYZ Channel 7. I had wonderful opportunities that quickly led me to Air Force One, as I was a Courier for President Bill Clinton, when I worked for CNN, the Detroit Bureau. I produced national news stories that viewers still remember to this day! Later, I started a video production company, in which I produced and did Voice Over work for 16 years. Some of my corporate clients were Wendy’s, the Discovery Channel, and the White House.
Because I love working in my community, I used my life coaching skills to create an anger management program to assist teens with conflict and resolution. We received a grant, which caught the eye of the Obama Administration. In 2012, President Barack Obama and the Department of Justice & Juvenile Justice, gave my teen group, “Peer2Peer” and I an award for the work we’ve done to stop violence in the urban community. It’s still a memory that I deeply cherish today.
Fast Forward, I currently live on the West Coast, and I work for an amazing company, “Northern Summit Productions”, where I am the lead producer of the animation series, “Chico & Paco Adventures”, as well as one of the producers for the feature film, “I Used to Be Your Neighbor”. I also sing on film soundtracks and recently had an opportunity to sing background for Stevie Mackey, Avery Wilson, and Jaden B. Gray.
I am literally doing what I love every single day! It’s a blessing and I can’t wait to see what else GOD has in store for me next!
Have you ever had to pivot?
Pivoting is a real part of entrepreneurship. I’ve had to pívot a lot of times. I’ve had businesses fail and then, I would have to go back to a full-time job. I’ve learned that you must keep multiple streams of income and that it’s ok to have a job, while your are building your brand. My parents were entrepreneurs as well. They taught me that every business has a slow season. Learn those seasons and prepare for them.
There were times, over the years, that I left broadcasting. I had seasons where I had trouble booking gigs or clients were having financial issues and they couldn’t afford me anymore. So, I had to go back to work. I was an educator for 18 years (off and on) mainly because I knew that teaching would keep bread on my table, even if I couldn’t book a gig or a client. It’s a part of the process sometimes. Through this process, I’ve learned that independent contract work can help you stay in your field, even if you still need a job on the side. Owning a business and building a brand comes with so many curve balls. It’s not easy, but it’s rewarding, if you don’t quit. Pivoting doesn’t make you a quitter. Pivoting simply allows you an opportunity to reset and restrategize. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and be willing to learn from your peers. Industries are constantly evolving. You always want to stay current.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The best source to getting new clients are referrals! When a client is happy, then they tell their friends, family, and business connects about you. Satisfied clients want to see you win. They want other people to experience your talents. Referrals are a great way to build up your clientele and to introduce your services to a new audience.
Contact Info:
- Website: Linktr.ee/MartinaWadeHill
- Instagram: @LifeCoachMartina
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lifecoachmartina
Image Credits
Jason Bush (photographer) Northern Summit Productions The Network Studios Studio 1212 ScreamFest